WILLIAM T. PRICE, a progressive farmer of Virginia precinct, Cass county, Illinois, was born in Morgan county, same State, November 6, 1840.

His parents were Adam and Susan (Rosenberger) Price, both of German descent, and natives of Rockingham county, Virginia, where they lived to maturity and were married. In 1833 they removed to Morgan county, Illinois, where the father entered and improved a large tract of Government land. In 1852 they moved to Virginia precinct, Cass county, where they settled on a farm on which they passed the remainder of their lives. The greatly esteemed and lamented father passed away February 1, 1875, his worthy wife surviving him until September, 1881. They, with five infant children, are interred in Bethlehem cemetery, the ground of which was donated by them for a public burial place. They were both devout Christians, who rendered valuable service for many years to the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the father filled, at different times, all the offices ever conferred on lay members. "Uncle Adam," as he was familiarly known, was a person of marked individuality and strong convictions, whose sterling integrity and earnest advocacy of all principles of justice won for him many friends where he was so well known. Of their twelve children, seven attained maturity, six now living (1892). John W., the eldest son, is a large landowner in Wilson county, Kansas. He married Maria Ganse, an estimable lady, and both are prominent in church and social circles. William T., whose name heads this biography, is the next in order of birth; Anna Eliza married James V. Rawlings, a prosperous farmer of Virginia precinct; Adam C. is a successful farmer of Douglas county, Illinois; Mary E. married Charles E. Strickler, of Sibley, Iowa; Amanda J., unmarried, resides in Virginia; and Sarah E., the youngest, married Alfred Griffin, of Nokomis, Illinois, and died in 1885.

The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood and early manhood on his father's farm and obtained a rudimentary education in the public schools. Amid these rural, peaceful scenes, he passed his time in the companionship of parents and friends until he attained his majority, when this happy state was rudely broken by the discordant notes of war. With youthful enthusiasm and patriotism, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for three years. He participated, with his command in the siege of Vicksburg and in many of the numerous battles which occurred in and around that almost invulnerable stronghold. In the engagement at Guntown, Mississippi, his regiment suffered severely, many being killed or wounded, while the remainder, including the subject of this notice, were captured and incarcerated in the prison at Andersonville, where Mr. Price was confined four months. He was eventually transferred to Millen, Georgia, via Savannah, that State; and, a month later, was sent to Florence, South Carolina, arriving there November 28, and remaining there until February of the following year. He was then sent, with other prisoners, to Richmond, Virginia, there paroled and sent North, and on arriving in St. Louis was granted thirty days' furlough. When in prison, Mr. Price gladly exchanged a valuable watch for an old, ragged blanket, considering it one of the best trades of his life. He was in the prison at Andersonville when five comrades were hung for stealing from their mates, whom they murdered to conceal their theft. A court, organized from among the prisoners, passed sentence on them and witnessed the execution. It was also while he was in prison that the "Providence" spring burst forth, originating as if by magic and yielding to the famishing prisoners an abundant supply of cold water of clearest crystal.

On the expiration of his furlough, he returned to Montgomery, Alabama, and three weeks later, the war closed and he returned to his home, resuming the duties which had been interrupted three years before.

On December 29, 1870, he was married to Augusta R., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Clutch) Marshall, pioneers of Cass county, James Marshall, her grandfather, having located in the county as early as 1825. Her father was of Scotch descent; while her mother was of Welsh ancestry, who emigrated to America in Colonial times, was in Waynesville, Ohio, and reared a Quakeress. Her father entered and improved the land on which Mr. price's house now stands, while the beautiful, towering maple trees which adorn the place are attractive memorials of his taste and enterprise, being planted half a century ago by his hands. This was his home until death, when his widow and three children removed to Jacksonville, this State, where Mrs. Price was married. Her mother remained there until her death, in 1874. In 1883, Mr. Price was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, which occurred on the old homestead.

With the exception of his three years' war experience, Mr. price has followed agricultural pursuits. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. Religiously he is an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and contributes liberally to the advancement of that and all other worthy objects.